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Hey, OP here. Yup: you're right. There's constantly stuff that needs to be done. My kids are between 4-11. So we're out of diapers and potty training (which is

Hey, OP here. Yup: you're right. There's constantly stuff that needs to be done. My kids are between 4-11. So we're out of diapers and potty training (which is huge). I just keep finding spaces where I can create: early mornings, late at night, or during my lunch hour. I answered this below, but basically every weekday between 5:30pm-8:30pm is family time (dinner, chores, bedtime routine). After that, I might try to build something if I have energy. Otherwise, I try to go to sleep. Weekends: wake up early and work on projects in the morning. Rest of the day is usually family activities. None of this is perfect. I definitely don't have a perfect routine, and I definitely have that "hard life stuff" too: http://justinjackson.ca/real-life/ http://justinjackson.ca/real-life/ Edit: I should mention that I get a lot of work done in "fits of inspiration." Meaning: if I can't sleep, and it's 1am I'll work until 4am if I'm energized.

ewoolery 13y ago
Thanks for the article Justin, I found it inspiring! I have a 3 year old who is almost beyond diapers, and who is requiring less time to put to bed, which I already see giving me more time for side projects. I've also found setting artificial constraints to side projects helps (to your point #1)...in my case, I set a goal of finishing 6 side projects in 6 months, each taking less than six hours (6x6x6: https://medium.com/design-startups/b602270880fd https://medium.com/design-startups/b602270880fd ); I got a bit stalled at the 5th project after taking a teaching job in addition to my startup gigs, but am still hoping to finish soon (may become 6x16(mo)x6).
latj 13y ago
Ok, now I buy it. ;) 5+ is a great time when they can actually survive by and entertain themselves; And, going to school during the day relieves pressure too. My side project schedule is about the same except starting a little later. I also try to work on things during tiny breaks (5-20 min) e.g. the bus, a waiting room, etc; Most of this time is sketching some diagram/UI/schema. But I find it very frustrating.
bigtunacan 13y ago
This is essentially the same situation I'm in. I have 3 kids(4, 7, 9). I work a full time day job and then fit in side projects wherever there is time. This is typically after the kids are in bed, if I wake up with a bout of insomnia, early weekend mornings, etc... My biggest downfall/problem is that I want to develop my own products and make money that way (and I am big into networking and selling), but I never focus on that. I've spent the last 3 years stuck in a never ending rut of contracting work for all of my side projects. The money is good, but it leaves me unsatisfied, and now I've been doing it long enough that I'm extremely burned out.

ewoolery 13y ago

Thanks for the article Justin, I found it inspiring! I have a 3 year old who is almost beyond diapers, and who is requiring less time to put to bed, which I already see giving me more time for side projects. I've also found setting artificial constraints to side projects helps (to your point #1)...in my case, I set a goal of finishing 6 side projects in 6 months, each taking less than six hours (6x6x6: https://medium.com/design-startups/b602270880fd https://medium.com/design-startups/b602270880fd ); I got a bit stalled at the 5th project after taking a teaching job in addition to my startup gigs, but am still hoping to finish soon (may become 6x16(mo)x6).

latj 13y ago

Ok, now I buy it. ;) 5+ is a great time when they can actually survive by and entertain themselves; And, going to school during the day relieves pressure too. My side project schedule is about the same except starting a little later. I also try to work on things during tiny breaks (5-20 min) e.g. the bus, a waiting room, etc; Most of this time is sketching some diagram/UI/schema. But I find it very frustrating.

bigtunacan 13y ago

This is essentially the same situation I'm in. I have 3 kids(4, 7, 9). I work a full time day job and then fit in side projects wherever there is time. This is typically after the kids are in bed, if I wake up with a bout of insomnia, early weekend mornings, etc... My biggest downfall/problem is that I want to develop my own products and make money that way (and I am big into networking and selling), but I never focus on that. I've spent the last 3 years stuck in a never ending rut of contracting work for all of my side projects. The money is good, but it leaves me unsatisfied, and now I've been doing it long enough that I'm extremely burned out.